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TURNER'S 

Guide to 

AND 

Description op 

PHILADELPHIA'S 

New City Hall 

Public Buildings 



THE LARGEST AND GRANDEST STRUCTURE IN THE 
WORLD 



Broad and Market Streets 

PHILADELPHIA 



Kredd'k Turner, Jr., 

PUBLISHER 

6 Sotitti Tentti Street 



Price, 2£ Cents 



\ 



TURNER'S 

Guide to 

AND 

Description of 

PHILADELPHIA'S 

New City Hall 

Public Buildings 



THE LARGEST AND GRANDEST STRUCTURE IN THE 
WORLD 



Broad and Market Streets 

PHILADELPHIA 



Fred'k Turner, Jr. 

PUBLISHER 
5 South. Tenth Street 



Price, 2^ Cents 



J ~)p &».«-,, w 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S91, by Fred k Turner, Jr , in the Office 
of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



We are indebted to William C. McPhersou, Esq., Superin- 
tendent of Construction, also the "Philadelphia Ledger" 
"Record" and " Times" for information that assisted us very 
materially in compiling this book. 

The illustrations are from photographs made by R. Newell 
& Son, Philadelphia. 



THE 



New City Hall 



PHILADELPHIA 



And Other Miscellaneous Information Appertaining 
to the Building. 



l892. 



Commissioners for the Erection of the Public Buildings 

WM. BRICE, HIRAM MILLER, 

ISAAC S. CASSIN, WENCEL HARTMAM, Ex- Officio, 

President Common Council, 
MAHLON H. DICKINSON, £DWIN g _ STTJART) Ex . fficio, 

THOMAS E. GASKILL, Mayor, 

RICHARD PELTZ, 
TAMES R. GATES, Ex- Officio, 

President Select Council. " WILLIAM S. STOKLEY, 

JOHN L. HILL, WILLIAM II. WRIGHT, 

SAMUEL C. PERKINS, LL. D., President. 



OFFICERS : 

President, SAMUEL C. PERKINS, LL. D. 

Secretary, WILLIAM B. LAND. 

Treasurer, GEORGE D. McCREARY. 

Solicitor, SAMUEL PELTZ. 

(The late JOHN McARTHUR, Jr. 
Architects, \ 

I JOHN ORD, Successor. 

Superintendent of Construction, WM. C. McPHERSON. 



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J^ecu City f4 flLlL * 



PHIUHDELPHIH 



Dimensions of Building. 

From North to South 4S6 ft. 6 in 

From East to West 470 ft. 

Area 4 J; acres. 

Height of Main Tower ... 547 ft. 3J2 in. 

Width of Base 90 ft. 

Centre of Clock Face 361 ft. above pavement. 

Diameter of Clock Face 20 ft. 

Height of Upper Balcony 296 ft. 

Number of Rooms in Building 750 

Total amount of Floor-room is 14J2 acres 

Height of each Centre Pavillion 202 ft. ioJ4 in. 

" Corner Towers 161 ft 

" Basement Story 10 ft. 3^ in. 

" Principal. Story 33 ft. 6 in. 

" Second Story 35 ft- 7 in. 

" Third Story, Centre Pavillions 26 ft. 6 in. 

" Third Story, Wings 24 ft. 3 in. 

" Thud Story, Curtains 20 ft. 5 in. 

" Attic of Centre Pavillions ■ 5 ft. 

" Attic of Corner Towers 13 ft. 6 in. 

" Crowning Statue 37 ft. 

•' Figures on Centre Dormers 17 ft. 6 in. 

" Figures on Corner Dormers 12 ft. 10 in. 



Comparative Heights 

OP THE 

PpiflCIPflll BOIIlDIfJOS Ifl THE WOP.UD. 

City Hall, Philadelphia, 5471 

Cologne Cathedral 510 

Great Pyramid 480 

Strasburg Cathedral 468 

St. Peter's, Rome 448 

St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna 441 

Salisbury Cathedral 404 

Torcacio of Cremona 396 

Friburg Cathedral 385 

Amiens Cathedral 383 

Church of St. Peter, Hamburg 3S0 ' 

The Cathedral, Florence 376 

Hotel de Ville, Brussels 374 ' 

Torre Asinelli, Bologna 370 

St. Paul's, London 360 

Church of St. Isaac, St. Petersburg 336 

Cathedral, Frankfort-on-Main 326 

Bell Tower. St. Mark's, Venice 323 

Hotel des Invalides, Paris 310 

U. S. Capitol, Washington 287 

Masonic Temple, Philadelphia 230 



Philadelphia's City Hall Compared with Other Cities. 



CITY. 


SIZE, FEET. 


FLOOR AREA. 
SQUARE FEET. 


TOTAL COST. 


Philadelphia 


470 X 486 

332 X 2S4 
180 x 140 
238 x 149 
276 x 160 


1,147,672 
212,1 70 

187.792 

184,839 
190,932 


$l6,O0O,COO 


St. Louis 

Buffalo 


4,500,00D 
2 OOO.OOO 
1,500,000 
1 ,;OO.0OO 
2,281,135 









AN ACT 
For the Erection of the Public Buildings. 



An Act to provide for the erection of all the Public Buildings 
required to accommodate the Courts, and for all Municipal 
purposes, in the City of Philadelphia, and to require the 
appropriation by said City, of Penn Squares, at Broad 
and Market Streets, to the Academy of Fine Arts, the 
Academy of Natural Sciences, the Franklin Institute, and 
the Philadelphia Library, in the event of the said Squares 
not being selected by a vote of the people as the site for the 
Public Buildings for said City. 

Section i. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of 
Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in 
General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the 
authority of the same: That Theodore Cuyler, John Rice, 
Samuel C. Perkins, John Price Wetherill, Lewis C 
Cassidy, Henry M. Phillips, William L. Stokes, William 
Devine, the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, and the 
Presidents of Select and Common Councils, for the time 
being, are constituted Commissioners for the erection of the 
Public Buildings required to accommodate the Courts, and 
for all Municipal purposes, in the City of Philadelphia, who 
shall organize within thirty days, procure such plans for the 
said buildings adapted to either of said sites hereinafter 
named, as in their judgment may be needful; appoint of 
their own number a President, and from other than their 
own number a Secretary, Treasurer, Solicitor, a competent 



Architect and assistants, and other employes ; fix the com- 
pensation of each person employed by them, and do all 
other acts necessary in their judgment to carry out the intent 
of this act in relation to said Public Buildings ; fill any 
vacancies which may happen by death, resignation, or other- 
wise, and if in the judgment of said Commission they shall 
deem it advisable to increase their number, they may, by a 
vote of a majority of their whole number, increase said 
Commission from time to time to any number not exceeding 
thirteen. The said Commissioners are hereby authorized 
and directed to locate said buildings on either Washington 
Square or Penn Square, as may be determined by a vote of 
the legally qualified voters of the City of Philadelphia at the 
next general election in October, one thousand eight hundred 
and seventy, and the Sheriff shall issue his proclamation and 
the City Commissioners and other proper officers of said 
City shall provide all things that may be needful to enable 
the voters to decide by ballot their choice of a site for said 
Public Buildings, and the Return Clerks shall certify to the 
Prothonotary the result of said election in the usual form 
required for other elections. And as soon as said choice is 
determined by a vote of the people, as provided in this act, 
the said Commissioners shall, within thirty days thereafter, 
advertise for proposals, and make all needful contracts for 
the construction of said buildings as soon thereafter as may 
be found practicable, which contracts shall be valid and 
binding in law upon the City and upon the Contractors, 
when approved by a majority of the said Board of Commis- 
sioners ; and the said Commissioners shall make requisition 
on the Councils of said City prior to the first day of Decem- 
ber in each year for the amount of money required by them 
for the purposes of the Commission for the succeeding year, 
and said Councils shall levy a special tax sufficient to raise 
the amount so required. Provided, That said Councils may 
at any time make appropriations out of the annual tax in 
aid of the purposes of this act. And provided further, That 
the amount to be expended by said Commissioners shall be 

3 



strictly limited to the sum required to satisfy their contracts 
for the erection of said buildings and for the proper and 
complete furnishing thereof; and as soon as any part of said 
buildings may be completed and furnished ready for occu- 
pancy they shall be occupied by the Courts, or such branch 
of the Municipal Government as they are intended for by 
said Commissioners; and upon the completion of a sufficient 
portion of said buildings to accommodate the Courts and 
Municipal Officers, the buildings now occupied by them 
respectively shall be vacated and removed, and upon the 
entire completion of the new buildings, all the present build- 
ings on Independence Square, except Independence Hall, 
shall be removed, and the ground placed in good condition 
by said Commission as part of their duty under this act, the 
expense of which shall be paid out of their general fund 
provided by this act, and thereupon the said Independence 
Square shall be and remain a public walk and green forever. 
And be it further provided, That in the event of Washing- 
ton Square being selected by a majority of votes as the 
location for the said Public Buildings, then and in that event 
the Councils of the City of Philadelphia are hereby author- 
ized, empowered and required to set apart for and convey by 
proper deeds or grants of conveyance, or by proper assur- 
ances of the right to occupy said squares, which the Mayor 
of the City of Philadelphia shall duly sign and execute under 
the seal of said City, the four squares of ground known as 
Penn Squares, located at the intersection of Broad and 
Market Streets, in the City of Philadelphia, as laid down 
on the present map of said City, one to each of the following 
institutions : The Academy of Fine Arts, the Academy of 
Natural Sciences, the Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia 
Library, for the purpose of allowing them to erect thereon 
ornamental and suitable buildings for their respective institu- 
tions. The location of such buildings and the plans thereof 
to be approved by the Commissioners appointed under 
this act, and their successors in office, together with the 
time of erection, and all other matters appertaining thereto: 



Provided, however, That all expenses connected with said con- 
veyances, plans and other information requisite for the said 
Commission to have shall be paid by the institutions respec- 
tively. In the event of the ultimate selection of Perm Squares 
as the site for said Public Buildings, the said Commission 
shall have authority and they are hereby empowered to 
vacate so much of Market and of Broad Streets, as they 
may deem needful ; Provided, however, That the streets 
passing around said buildings shall not be of less width than 
one hundred feet. It shall be the duty of the Mayor, the 
City Controller, City Commissioners and City Treasurer, and 
all other officers of the City, and also the duty of the Coun- 
cils of the City of Philadelphia, to do and perform all such 
acts in aid and promotion of the intent and purpose of this 
Act of Assembly as said Commission may from time to time 
require. All laws and parts of laws restricting the uses and 
purposes of said Squares, or any of them, that may be in 
conflict with the intention and purpose of this act, be and 
the same are hereby repealed. 

B. B. Strang, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Charles H. Stinson, 

Speaker of the Senate. 

Approved the fifth day of August, Anno Domini one 
thousand eight hundred and seventy. 

John W. Geary. 

SUMMARY 

OF LEGISLATIVE AND MUNICIPAL ACTION RELATING TO THE 

WORK, WITH A BRIEF HISTORY OF EVENTS 

PERTAINING THERETO. 

The earliest movements relating to the present undertaking 
consisted in the passage of an ordinance by the City Coun- 
cils, approved December 31, 1868, providing for the erection 
of Municipal Buildings on Independence Square, and desig- 
nating Commissioners to carry the same into effect. 



The first meeting of the Commission was held in the Select 
Council Chamber, January 7, 1869. 

Architectural designs were advertised for on the 5th of 
April, 1869, and on the 1st of September following, plans and 
drawings had been received from seventeen different architects. 

At a meeting of the Commissioners, held September 27, 
1869, the first premium was awarded to John McArthur, Jr., 
architect, of this city, and on the 27th of the following 
December Mr. McArthur was appointed Architect of the 
work, and proposals for labor and materials were ordered to 
be advertised for. 

Contracts were awarded on the 16th of January, 1870, and 
arrangements made for commencing the work. 

A strong opposition to Independence Square, as the site 
for the Municipal Buildings, had existed in the public mind 
from the earliest movements in that direction, and as the 
Commission proceeded with their preparations for carrying 
out the provisions of the ordinance under which they were 
acting, the opposition became daily more intensified, until it 
culminated in the passage of a law by the Legislature of the 
State, approved August 5, 1870, providing for the erection 
of the Public Buildings, either on Washington Square or on 
Penn Square, as the legally qualified voters of the city of 
Philadelphia might determine, at the general election to be 
held in October, 1870. The election resulted, out of a total 
of 84,450 votes, in a majority of above 18,000 in favor of the 
site on Penn Square, which finally disposed of the question. 
The passage of this law rendered the municipal ordinance of 
no effect, and relieved the Commissioners acting under it of 
further duties. 

The first meeting of the Commissioners under the new law 
was held on the 27th of August, 1870, at the Mayor's Office. 
A temporary organization was effected by the election of the 
Mayor, Daniel M. Fox, as President, and Eugene G. Wood- 
ward Secretary. 

September 15, 1870, John McArthur, Jr., was elected 
Architect of the work. 



October 4, 1870, a permanent organization was made, and 
John Rice was elected President, Charles B. Roberts Secre- 
tary, and Charles H. T. Collis Solicitor. 

The removal of the iron railings which inclosed the four 
squares on Broad and Market streets was commenced on the 
27th of January, 1 871, and this may properly bo considered 
as the date of the actual beginning of the work, and August 
16, 1 87 1, the ground was formally broken by the President 
of the Commission. 

October 12, 1871, Francis De Haes Janvier was elected 
Secretary, in place of Mr. Roberts, resigned, and John Sun- 
derland was elected Superintendent. 

April 7, 1872, the original plan for one building on the 
intersection of Broad and Market streets, instead of four 
buildings, divided by these streets, was finally resolved upon. 

The first stone was laid on the 12th of August, 1872, in 
the southwest angle of the foundations by the President. 

On the 17th of April, 1872, Mr. Rice resigned as President 
of the Commissioners, and Samuel C. Perkins was elected in 
his place, and has held the office continuously ever since. 

The contract for the granite basement was awarded Nov- 
ember 19, 1872, for $515,500; and work was commenced at 
the buildings under the contract March 24, 1873. The con- 
tract for the marble work of the superstructure was awarded 
on the 7th of October, 1873, for $5>3 00 ? 000 ; an d the first 
block set at the southern entrance, July 3, 1874. 

The corner-stone was laid in the northeast angle of the 
tower July 4, 1874, with Masonic ceremonies, by the R. W. 
Grand Master of F. and A. M. of Pennsylvania ; and the last 
block of marble was set in place May 7, 1887, on the tower 
at the southwest angle, 337 feet 4j4 inches from the ground. 

November 4, 1 873, Wm, C. McPherson was elected Superin- 
tendent, and entered upon his duties November 10, 1873, 
and has been continued in office ever since. 

December 2, 1884, Charles 11. T. Collis resigned his position 
as Solicitor to the Commissioners ; and Samuel Peltz was on 
the same date elected to fill the vacancy. 



January 5, 1885, Francis De Haes Janvier, Secretary, died; 
and on February 3, 1885, Wm, B. Land was elected to fill 
the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Janvier. 

January 8, 1890, John McArthur, Jr., the Architect, died. 

January 15, 1890, John Ord was elected Architect, and 
entered upon his duties February 1, 1890. 

The appropriations by Councils for the prosecution of the 
work have been to January I, 1891, 513,721,609.88. 






I 




Description of the Buildings. 



THE EXTERIOR. 

A tendency exists in the public mind to seek to classify 
every considerable architectural design, under the head of 
some "order" or "style;" but modern genius and taste 
deal so largely in original adaptations of classic and other 
forms, that we often find no small difficulty in deciding under 
which, if any, of the heretofore established orders or styles 
many of the most important structures of the present day 
can properly be classed. 

The architecture of the New Public Buildings is of this 
character. It is essentially modern in its leading features, 
and presents a rich example of what is known by the generic 
term of the "Renaissance," modified and adopted to the 
varied and extensive requirements of a great American 
municipality. 

It is designed in the spirit of French art, while, at the same 
time, its adaptation of that florid and tasteful manner of 
building is free from servile imitation, either in ornamenta- 
tion or in the ordinance of its details. 

This immense architectural pile is located at the intersec- 
tion of Broad and Market Streets, in the City of Philadelphia. 
It covers, exclusive of the court-yard, an area of nearly 4^ 
acres, and consists of one building, surrounding an interior 
court-yard. The north and south fronts measure 470 feet, 
and the east and west fronts, 486^ feet in their extreme 
length. 



The four fronts are similar in design. In the centre of 
each, an entrance pavilion, 90 feet in width, rises to the height 
of 202 feet io}4 inches, having receding wings of 128 feet 
elevation. The fronts terminate at the four corners with 
towers or pavilions of 51 feet square, and 161 feet high. 

The whole exterior is bold and effective in outline and 
rich in detail, being elaborated with highly ornate columns, 
pilasters, pediments, cornices, enriched windows and other 
appropriate adornments. 

Archways of 18 feet in width by 36 feet in height, opening 
through each of the four central pavilions, constitute the four 
principal entrances, and at the same time afford passages for 
pedestrians up and down Broad and Market streets, directly 
through the buildings. 

The basement story is 18 feet 3^ inches in height, and 
stands entirely above the line of the pavement. Its exterior 
is of fine white granite, of massive proportions, forming a 
fitting base for the vast superstructure it supports. 

The exterior of the building above the basement embraces 
a principal story of 33 feet 6 inches, a second story of 35 feet 
7 inches, and a third story in the centre pavilions of 26 feet 
6 inches, with an attic over the central pavilions of 1 5 feet, 
and over the corner pavilions of 13 feet 6 inches, all of white 
marble, from the Lee quarries, in Berkshire count}', Massa- 
chusetts, wrought, in all its adornments, in forms of exquisite 
beauty, expressing American ideas and developing American 
genius. The small rooms opening upon the court-yard are 
each sub-divided in height into two stories. 

In the centre of the group a court-yard of 200 feet square 
affords light and air to all the adjacent portions of the build- 
ing. From the north side of this space rises a grand tower, 
which will gracefully adorn the Public Buildings, and at the 
same time will be a crowing feature of the city, from whatever 
point it may be approached, as St. Peter's is of Rome, and 
St. Paul's is of London. The foundations of this tower are 
laid on a bed of solid concrete, 100 feet square, 8 feet 6 inches 
thick, at the depth of 23 feet 6 inches below the surface of 



the ground; and its walls, which at the base are 22 feet in 
thickness, are built of dressed dimension stones, weighing 
from two to five tons each. 

This tower, which is so deeply and so strongly founded, 
is 90 feet square at the base, falling off at each story until it 
becomes, at the spring of the dome, an octagon of 50 feet in 
diameter. A statue of the founder of Pennsylvania, 37 feet 
in height, will crown the structure and complete the extra- 
ordinary altitude of 547 feet 3^2 inches, making it the highest 
tower in the world; while at the same time it possesses the 
elements of firmness and stability in a higher degree than 
any known structure of a like character. 

The Exterior of the Northern Entrance. 
See Illustration, page 14. 

The keystone of the arch consists of a carved marble 
head of Win. Penn, surmounted on either side by spandrels of 
a Western Pioneer and Indian, representing the Progress of 
Civilization. The central windows of the second floor is 
embellished on the west side with a bas-relief representing 
Poetry, and on the east side by Architecture ; on the west 
side of the central window of the third floor is a statue, 
representing Victory, and upon the east side that of Fame ; 
over the window is the coat-of-arms of Pennsylvania. We 
now come to the dormer window. Upon the west is a statue 
of a Northman, and on the east that of a Northwoman, and 
capping the dormer window are two reclining statues repre- 
senting a Puritan and Layman, thus showing that in its 
entirety the northern entrance is emblematical of the North. 

The Interior of the Northern Entrance. 

The flat portion of the wall is of Ohio sandstone, base of 
pilasters, red granite blocks, resting on moulding of polished 
blue granite, and surmounted with moulding of carved and 
polished red granite, upon which the main pilasters rest. 



The cornice consists of carved panels representing Commerce, 
Mechanics, Architecture, Poetry, Science, Music, Navigation, 
Botany, The Freedom of the Ballot, Education, etc. 

The walls are laid in dark blue, heavily-veined Penn 
marble, highly polished. Four archways enter from the four 
sides. The arches are turned in the same marble as the 
walls, and the keystones are of lighter blue marble, carved 
to typify the four continents. Over the south door is the 
head of a tiger, representing Africa ; over the east an ele- 
phant, representing Asia; over the north a bullock, repre- 
senting Europe, and over the west a bear, representing 
America. 

The walls are ornamented with heavy square pilasters of 
red granite, resting on blue granite bases, and surmounted 
by capitals of sandstone carved to represent the bodies of 
children of the four principal races — Caucasian, Mongolian, 
American and African. 

The ceiling is supported by four massive columns of pol- 
ished red granite, three feet in diameter, resting on blue 
granite bases, and surmounted by sandstone capitals of origi- 
nal designs, representing the heads and bodies of men and 
women of the four races — the Indian, America ; the Cau- 
casian, Europe; the negro, Africa, and the Mongolian, Asia 
— their arms extended above their heads, in the attitude of 
holding heavy weight. 

The ceiling is entirely of sandstone, heavily panelled and 
elaborately carved, and composed of blocks of stone weigh- 
ing from ii to 14 tons each. 

The eastern staircase of the northern entrance leads to the 
model of the Centennial Exposition, lately made and pre- 
sented to the city by Mr. John Baird. Councils appropriated 
$5,000 for the special purpose of providing for this model a 
handsome enclosure of oak and plate glass, and it is now on 
exhibition free to the public. 

On the east side of this entrance, about the centre, situated 
in a well, lighted by electricity, is the corner-stone, a block 
of fine white marble, weighing about eight tons. Upon 



the upper side of the stone a cavity was made, in which was 
placed an hermetically-sealed copper box, in which were 
deposited coins, documents, newspapers of the day, etc., etc. 
One face of the stone is exposed to view from the interior 
space, and upon the face is cut the following inscription : — 

CORNER STONE 



Public Buildings of the City of Philadelphia 

LAID JULY 4, 1874, 

In the presence of the Mayor of the City, the Select and Common Councils, 

Heads of Departments, and other distinguished Civil, Military, 

and Naval Officials, and a large concourse of citizens, 

By ALFRED R. POTTER, Esq., 

R. W. Grand Master of Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdiction 
thereunto belonging, assisted by his Grand Officers, and accord- 
ing to the ancient ceremonies of the craft. 

Orator, BENJAMIN HARRIS BREWSTER. 



President Governor Mayor 

of the United States, of Pennsylvania, of Philadelphia, 

Ulysses S. Grant. John F. Hartranft. William S. Stokley. 



Commissioners for the Erection of the Public Buildings, 
Act of Assembly, August 5, 1S70: 

Architect, John McArthur, Jr. Superintendent, William C. McPherson. 

President, Samuel C. Perkins. 

Thos J. Barger, Mahlon II. Dickinson, John L. Hill, 

William Brice, Robert W. Downing, Hiram Miller, 

Samuel W. Cattell, Thomas E. Gaskill, Richard Peltz, 

Lewis C. Cassidy, A. Wilson Henszey, William S. Stokley. 

Secretary, Francis De Haes Janvier. Treasurer, Peter A. B. Widener. 

Solicitor, Charles II. T. Collis. 

'9 



Exterior of the Southern Entrance, or Entrance to 
Law Department. 

See Illustration, page 20. 

A carved head of Moses forms the keystone of the arch 
to the southern entrance, embellished on either side with 
carvings symbolical of Law and Justice. Upon the east 
side of the main window of the second floor is a bas-relief 
representing Justice, with scales, while upon the west side is 
Execution. Upon the third floor are two marble statues — 
that upon the east emblematical of Justice, and that upon 
the west the Majesty of the Law ; over the window is the 
coat-of-arms of Pennsylvania. 

The dormer window is ornamented with two statues, a 
male and a female African, and over the window are figures 
of South Sea Islanders, representing the South. 

The Interior of the Southern Entrance. 

The sides are of sandstone, elegantly carved and adorned 
with columns, decorated with heads of tigers at their base 
and capped with nude figures representing Youth. The 
entrance through the east and west archways are guarded 
by solid bronze doors, cast in Munich, ornamented with 
elaborate designs and the coat-of-arms of Philadelphia. 

Facing north, the inside keystone of the arch represents 
Moses, or Law. Opposite, facing south, is Justice, blind- 
folded, with scales, above, and directly below a medallion 
head of Horace Binney. 

As you enter the vestibule leading to the staircase you 
will notice that upon the sides, cornices, etc., are carved 
figures of lions, tigers, etc., representative of the South, 
while the keystone looking north is represented by the head 
of a buffalo facing the owl, with its books and pendulum, 
showing Wisdom, Law and Judgment. 

The stone stairway is embellished with carved figures of 
Morning, Light, Youth, Water, etc. 



Exterior of Eastern Entrance, or Entrance to City 
Executive Department. 
The head of Benjamin Franklin forms the keystone of the 
entrance, the spandrel on the north representing Mining, and 
that upon the south, Engineering. To the north of the 
central window on the second floor is Art, in bas-relief, while 
Science is represented on the south side. Over the window 
on the third floor we see the coat-of-arms of Philadelphia; 
to the north is a statue of a woman representing Peace, and 
upon the south is a man showing Industry. While above, 
on each side of the dormer window, are two statues, male 
and female, representing Asia ; over the dormer window are 
two reclining figures of China and Japan ; the whole front 
being allegorical of the East. 

Interior of Eastern Entrance. 

The eastern or Mayor's entrance. The architecture is 
mainly of a florid Doric character. The walls are of sand- 
stone, and the pillars and pilaster of the same material, 
with panels of Lake Champlain red marble, set into the 
sandstone. 

The granite stairway, each 9 feet 3 inches wide, rising 
from each side of the main entrance. In the spandrels 
formed by the rake of the stairs are two panels of sandstone, 
containing life-sized figures in alto-relievo, representing 
Science and Architecture. 

Science is represented by a male figure reclining, holding 
a map and compass, while above burns a lamp. 

Architecture is represented by a half-draped female figure, 
holding a drawing-board, while in the distance is a view of 
the City Hall. 

Exterior of the Western Entrance and Doorway for 

Police Department. 

The keystone to the entrance represents Sympathy, with 

allegorical spandrels on either side. To the south of the 

central window on the second floor is the bas-relief of 



Repentance, and upon the north side is seen Charity ; over the 
window of the third story is the coat-of-arms of Philadel- 
phia, while two statues are on either side of the window; 
that on the south side represents Meditation and the one on 
the north side, Sorrow. On either side of the dormer 
window are figures, an Indian and Squaw, and upon the top 
are two lay figures of Western Pioneers, typical of the 
West 

Interior of the Western Entrance. 

The walls are of plain, gray stone ; the keystone of the 
inner archway, which is sandstone, is sculptured into a head, 
surrounded by chains, typifying Pain. On the panels on 
either side are two great threatening tigers, and carvings of 
thorns and thistles, showing that the way of the transgressor 
is hard. 

Exterior of the Corner Pavilions. 

Situated on each of the four corners are the pavilions, each 
50 feet square and 161 feet in height, all being elaborated with 
highly ornate columns cornices, and richly sculptured 
spandrels. The northwest pavilion is embellished with 
carving typical of Knowledge, Manufactures, Finance, Com- 
merce, Industry, etc. 

The northeast pavilion, with carvings representing Liberty, 
War, Navigation, Manufactures, etc. 

The southeast pavilion, with carvings of Astronomy, 
Chemistry, Art, Science, Fame, Peace, etc. 

The southwest pavilion, with carvings of Agriculture, 
Horticulture, Poetry, Music, Spring, Autumn, etc. 



The Interior of the Corner Pavilions. 

Each corner pavilion contains a wonderful specimen of the 
architect and builder's art, consisting of a solid self-supporting 
granite staircase, 150 feet in height. 



The Court- Yard. 

In the centre of the structure is the court-yard, 200 feet 
square, which together with two open areas, 45 x 69 feet, 
afford abundance of light and air to all adjacent portions of 
the building. The principal stories facing the court-yard are 
divided by a mazzanine or half-story, affording increased space 
for smaller rooms. 

The Tower. 

From the north side of the court-yard rises the grand 
tower, the architectural triumph of the present age, 90 feet 
square at the base, gracefully falling off at each story until it 
becomes at the spring of the dome (which is 315 feet above 
the level of the court-yard) an octagon of 56 feet in diameter, 
tapering to the height of 84 feet, where it is to be crowned 
with a statue of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, 
36 feet 8 inches in height, thus completing the extraordinary 
altitude of 547 feet 3^ inches, making it the highest artificial 
construction in the world, while at the same time it possesses 
the elements of firmness and stability in a degree superior to 
those of any known structure of like character. 

The foundations of the tower are laid on a bed of solid 
concrete, eight feet thick, at the depth of 20 feet below the 
surface of the ground, and its walls, which at the base are 
22 feet in thickness, are built of dressed dimension stones, 
weighing from two to five tons each. 

The marble work, which finishes at ^57 ^ eet 4 l A inches 
above the pavement, is capped with large granite blocks, 18 
inches thick. The windows at this eminence are ornamented 
on the four sides by handsome specimens of the sculptor's 
art, representing Fire, Water, Earth and Air. 

The metal superstructure commences at this point, with 
the clock-story, rising 6j feet 8 inches. The balance of the 
metal work, the external covering of the dome, rising 105 
feet 7 inches, including the four eagles, the four groups of 



figures representing the four quarters of the earth, and the 
statue of William Perm, are all made and constructed of 
aluminum bronze. 

The work of plating the columns and exposed portion of 
the iron work with aluminum will shortly be commenced. 
Thirty thousand pounds of the metal will be required in the 
work, and when finished there will not be a single exposed 
spot on the vast structure but will have a coat of aluminum 
the color of matted silver. 

Applied by Electricity. 

This plating of aluminum, which is about one-sixteenth of 
an inch in thickness, will be applied to the iron by electricity, 
and the most minute detail of architecture will be preserved 
throughout. Covered over with this metal — said to be not 
only indestructible in itself, but preservative of that which it 
covers in like degree — the dome of the City Hall will never 
need exterior repairs. The Capitol dome at Washington 
is seldom without a disfiguring scaffolding on the outside for 
workmen who are constantly at work on some part of the 
great structure. 

Besides the unpleasant and homely aspect, this constant 
hacking and tinkering costs the Government 510,000 per 
annum for painting alone. When the work of placing the 
statue of Perm on the City Hall shall have been completed 
the scaffolding and every vestige of material used in putting 
the superstructure in place will be removed, and then, so 
far as atmospheric action on the work is concerned, no further 
work on it will be necessary in hundreds of years. 

Cooler and Lighter. 

The effect of this coating of aluminum will be very pleas- 
ing to the eye. It will not glitter in the sunlight, nor cast 
dazzling reflections. It will so modify the rays of the sun 
that the building below will be cooler in summer, for alumi- 
num will not, as other metals, absorb radiant heat. The 



expansion and contraction of the dome from heat or cold will 
be reduced to a minimum, while the weight of metal covering 
used will be less than one- fourth that of copper or lead. 
Never in the least changing color, never oxidizing either itself 
or the metals over which it is placed, excepting through 
some upheaval of nature, the dome will stand for an eternity 

of time. 

William Penn's Statue. 

It is the intention of the Building Commission to place in 
the centre of the court-yard the bronze statue of the founder 
of Pennsylvania that will eventually crown the tower. This 
disposition of the William Penn statue, will of course, be 
only temporary, but it is the thought of the Commissioners 
that, as the greatest piece of work of its kind in this country, 
it will inspire the keenest interest in all, and that it is the 
right thing to do to display it in such a manner that the 
dimensions of the statue can be fully conceived and appreci- 
ated. Once in the position it is hoped it will occupy for 
some centuries to come, and viewed from a distance of over 
500 feet, the vastness of its proportions will be reduced to 
the eye to a very ordinary size, but for a year or two at 
least visitors can become familiar with its proportions as it 
stands in the court-yard on a wooden pedestal five or six feet 
high. 

The statue represents William Penn, resting one hand, con- 
taining a scroll, on a section of a tree trunk, with the other 
hand outstretched as if making an address. Its greatest 
width to the tips of his outstretched fingers is 19 feet. The 
width across the shoulders is 9 feet, and the waist measure is 
26 feet 4 inches. The long coat of Quaker cut, reaching a 
point midway to the knee, is 19 feet 8 inches long. The leg 
in one place has a circumference of 15 feet, and from the 
ankle to the knee-joint measures over 8 feet. Around the 
calf of the leg measures 9 feet, and the foot lacks only an 
inch of being 6 feet long. The width of the shoe is 22 
inches and the sole is 3 inches thick. The bows on the 
front of the low-cut shoes measure 2 feet and 2 inches 



in diameter. The arm, from the shoulder to the tip of the 
middle finger, is 15 feet and S inches long, the finger in ques- 
tion measuring 28 inches on the outside of the hand. The 
latter, from the finger tips to the wrist, measures 4 feet, all 
but 2 inches, and is 29 inches wide across the palm. The 
buttons on the coat and vest are 6 inches and 4 inches 
respectively in diameter, and the meshes in the "point lace" 
cuffs measure \)A inches. 

His Nose a Foot Long. 

The mouth of the placid-looking face would easily take in 
a whole turkey in one bite. It measures 14 and 1 l / 2 inches 
across. The nose is 1 foot and 3 inches long, and the eyes, 
measuring 10 inches across, are more than a foot apart. 
The eyebrows project 3 inches and the pupils of the eyes are 

3 inches in diameter. The ears are covered, as in the style of 
his period, by the hair worn long, the latter falling to the 
shoulders, and measuring 4 feet 4 inches. The head itself is 

4 feet in diameter. The hat is 3 feet high and 7 feet long. 
The curl on the sides of the hat is heavy, and its dimensions 
this way is 6 feet. 

The letters on the scroll that Penn bears in his hand are 
six inches long, and are a faithful reproduction of the Eng- 
lish characters used at that time. It bears a seal of Charles 
II, two feet in diameter, and on the exposed page it has the 
following inscription : — 

Charles II, King of England, France, 
Defender of the Faith. To all to whom 
these presents shall come. " Greeting." 

Whereas, Our trustie and well beloved 
subject, William Penn, Esquire, Sonn 
and heir of Sir William Penn, deceased, 
etc. 

How He is Built. 

The average thickness of the statue is three-eighths of an 
inch. Its greatest thickness is one and one-half inches at 
the feet and it grows graduallv thinner until at the head it is 



only one-fourth of an inch thick. President Schumann, of 
the constructing company, explained that it was necessary to 
mould it in that way because the statue must be self-support- 
ing and bear a wind pressure of fifty pounds to the square 
foot. It will be fastened down to its pedestal by one hundred 
and twenty bolts one and one-half inches thick through the 
soles of the shoes and the tree stump. 

The matter of putting the statue in its final resting-place 
will be a difficult one. It must ascend from the centre of the 
tower, and it is necessary that it should go up before the 
opening grows too small for it to get through. The statue, 
according to present pi T .ns, is to be raised when the octagonal 
portion is within forty feet of completion, since it gradually 
narrows to the top. Originally it was the intention to hoist 
the statue up in its entirety, but the scheme that will prob- 
ably be adopted is that of raising the big body in sections. Of 
these there will be for this purpose only eight. These will 
consist of the two legs, two arms, the stump of the tree 
against which the figure of Penn is standing, the body, the 
head and the base. 

THE FOUR GORGEOUS LAMPS 

TO BE AT THE CITY HALL'S FOUR CORNERS — AX ESTHETIC 
PEDESTAL FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTS THAT IS PROPOSED. 

The four ornate lamp-posts that will soon adorn the cor- 
ners of the City Hall plaza will add another feature to the 
wonders of that architectural triumph. The stand will be 
nearly 50 feet high, built on a granite base, above which is 
an ornamental iron pedestal supporting three graceful life-size 
female figures with clasped hands. Their heads support a 
circular disc 4 feet in diameter, from which hang twelve 
incandescent lights 12 feet from the pavement level. Above 
this disc runs an iron pole to the height of 30 feet, close to 
the top of which are suspended in triangular form three arc 
lights of 2,000 candle-power each. Eight feet above these, 
at the pinnacle, is a fourth lamp of 2,000 candle-power. 



The whole arrangement is a graceful and beautiful concep- 
tion, and will be a handsome addition to the grand edifice. 
In the arrangement of the lights the best means of utilizing 
and disseminating the light have been studied, and it is 
thought that the effort will be successful. The wires for all 
the lamps in the standard will be laid under ground. 

It is thought that the four standards at the corners of the 
building will completely illuminate the entire space of the 
plaza. 

The standards are the design of Architect John Ord, of 
the Public Buildings Commission, who has succeeded in 
making them objects of architectural beauty. After they are 
in place and in use, the square about the Public Buildings, 
which is now rather dark at night, will be one of the best- 
lighted portions of the city. 

The Roof, 

reached by the elevator on S. E. corner, is of solid asphalt, 
almost level, forming a grand promenade of about three acres 
in extent, for all who choose to avail themselves of it. From 
this altitude the views of the city and its surroundings — 
north, south, east and west — are magnificent, extending for 
miles in every direction. 

Description of Supreme Court Rooms. 
Nos. 450, 452, 454, 456, 458, 460, 556, 558, 560. 

The suite of rooms now finished permanently for the use 
of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania are on the south front 
of the fourth floor of the building, and can be reached by 
elevators in either the southeast or the southwest angle of 
the main corridors, or by the main southern stairway, which 
rises from the west side of the southern entrance, or by the 
stair in the southwest pavilion. The rooms are nine in 
number, and comprise 7,450 square feet of floor space. 

The court-room is 37 feet 3 inches wide, 51 feet long and 
28 feet 8 inches high. It has a wainscot of Tennessee 



marble 6 feet 2 inches high all around it, and the piers 
between windows and doors are enriched with Corinthian 
pilasters which earn' an architrave, deep frieze and rich 
modillion cornice. The ceiling is enriched with deep rect- 
angular panels. There are three windows in the south wall 
of the room, and three doors opposite, entering from the 
corridor. The bench and platform are at the east end. The 
platform is elevated two feet above the general floor level, 
and extends across the full width of the room. An alcove 
or recess, semi-octagonal in plan, gives increased depth to 
the platform, the floor of which is laid with a Roman marble 
mosaic pavement. The platform, and also the bench, are 
curved in front, so that the Chief Justice, occupying the 
centre, can see and communicate more readily with his three 
associates on either hand. The curving of the bench also 
equalizes the distance of the Judges from the speakers, the 
position of the attorney on the floor being very nearly the 
centre from which the circle of the bench is described. 
The front of the bench, from the level of the floor of the 
court-room up to the level of the platform, is constructed of 
Tennessee marble, and above that is of seven selected slabs 
of Mexican onyx, each about 4 feet long and 2 feet high. 
These are framed in statuary bronze, the divisions between 
the panels being caryatic figures symbolical of Law, Justice, 
Jurisprudence, etc. These figures are in pairs, about 24^ 
inches high, are beautifully modelled, and support a finely- 
moulded and enriched cornice of bronze about 7 inches high. 
In front of the bench, distant about 4 feet 6 inches from the 
ends, is the bar, a straight, heavy balustrade of dark mahog- 
any; and about 10 feet from the other end of the room, 
corresponding with the curved bench, is a curved rail with 
seat attached, inside of which the floor space is devoted to 
the use of members of the bar, and outside of which are 
chairs for the general public. 

On the wall back of the bench, to the south, is a memorial 
to John Bannister Gibson, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania 
from May 18, 1827, to December 1, 1851. It consists of 



an Italian marble portrait bust, the property of the Law- 
Association, and which is placed in a niche in a tablet of 
Caen stone, having side pilasters and pediment head delicately 
carved in a somewhat severe and simple Ionic style. The 
frieze of the tablet bears the inscription " Splendida fecit 
arbitria, et majestatis plena." 

Occupying a corresponding position on the north side of 
the bench is a memorial of George Sharswood, Chief Justice 
from 1879 to 1882. It is in the form of a medallion three- 
quarter portrait bust in bronze, set in a tablet of Caen stone 
of the same general size as the Gibson tablet, but differing 
in detail and design, which is in a more free classic style, a 
circular panel in the entablature containing carved representa- 
tions of an owl and some books, symbolical of Wisdom. 
On the west wall of the Court-room, in position correspond- 
ing with those of these tablets, are hung portraits in oil of 
Edward Shippen, Chief Justice from December 18, 1799, to 
February 26, 1806, and of William Tilghman, who immedi- 
ately succeeded him and continued in office till his death, 
April 30, 1827. 

The doors and windows of this room are very handsomely 
draped, as is also the alcove back of the bench, the walls of 
which, above the marble wainscot, are entirely covered with 
fluted and tufted work, the material being heavy mohair plush 
of a soft light mouse-color. The walls and ceilings of this 
room are also very richly painted in oil colors — dull red on 
the walls and subdued gray-greens on the ceilings, gold 
being freely used very effectively. The lighting, ventilating 
and heating arrangements are similar to those of the Consul- 
tation-room, there being 70 electric lights and 52 gas lights, 
in three electro-gasoliers of 30 lights each and eight side 
brackets of 4 lights each. Four flues supply heated air, 
having a total capacity of 100,000 cubic feet per hour, the 
normal contents of the room being say 45,000 cubic feet. 
There are also four flues arranged to carry off the vitiated 
air. The acoustic properties of the room are unusually fine. 
The furniture of the room is mahogany. 



The Consultation-Room. 

Room No. 450 is directly in the centre of the building, 
and its large triple window overlooks South Broad Street. 
It is the private consultation-room or library of the Judges, 
and is 42 feet 5 inches wide, 46 feet 3 inches long and has 30 
feet 4 inches height of ceiling. The entrance to the corridor or 
stairway is in the centre of the north wall of the room ; 
directly opposite is a large circular-headed window with side 
lights ; on the left or east wall is an open fireplace of polished 
Tennessee marbles and Mexican onyx, with basket grate for 
coal or wood fire, and andirons and fender of wrought iron 
" Bower Barfed." Opposite the fireplace, in the centre of the 
west wall, a door leads to the toilet and robing-rooms, and 
thence on to the bench of the court rooms. 

The consultation-room walls are each relieved by two 
pilasters, 24 feet apart between centres, set on marble pedes- 
tals 7 feet 9 inches high. The pilasters are 24 inches wide 
at the base, diminishing to 20 inches at the neck, and the 
capitals are modelled after the Corinthian order, with the 
addition of a rich collar or necking 6 inches wide. The top 
of the caps is 25 feet 6 inches from the floor, and the balance 
of height to the ceiling is occupied by a finely moulded 
and enriched modillion cornice. The ceiling itself shows a 
circular panelled centre within a square of 22 feet, bordered 
by rectangular panels 4 feet deep. The windows are finished 
in marble to the height of the sills, with broad seats in 
recesses, having detached fluted columns in front of the 
mullions, with ante-pilasters against the walls. An impost 
moulding 3 feet deep, composed of architrave, festooned frieze 
and dentel cornice, extends around the walls at 15 feet from 
the floor ; and springing from this over the round head of 
the centre window is a rich archivolt moulding. Against the 
walls, between the marble pedestals of the main pilasters are 
mahogany book-cases 7 feet 3 inches high, divided into 
compartments of about 26 inches in width each, with finely 
selected figured mahogany panels in the lower portions of 
the doors, and small panes of bevelled plate glass in polished 



brass frames in the upper poitions. There is shelf-room for 
4,500 volumes. Over the entrance door from the corridor, 
in a semi-circular panel, is placed the coat-of-arms of the 
State of Pennsylvania, in plaster, in full relief, and painted in 
correct heraldic colors. William H. Egle, Esq., the State 
Librarian, furnished the " official heraldic description " as 
follows : — 

Escutcheon. — Party per fesse, azure and vert. On a chief 
f the first, a ship under sail. On a fess or, a plough proper. 
On a base of the second, three garbs or. 

Crest — An eagle rousant, proper, on a wreath of its colors. 

Supporters — Two horses sable, caparisoned for draught, 
rearing, respectant. 

Motto — Virtue, Liberty and Independence. 

The warming of the room is by steam used indirectly, the 
radiators being placed in the basement, and the pure cold air 
is forced through and over them by fan and led in suitable 
flues into the room. Two of these are on the east and 2 on 
the west side of the room, and they are opened through 
handsome bronze registers set 6 feet from the floor, in the 
marble pedestals of the pilasters. Corresponding with these 
registers, in the pedestals of the north and south walls are 
panels inlaid with selected pieces of Mexican onyx. These 
four flues have a capacity to deliver 150,000 cubic feet of 
pure warm air per hour; and four other flues, arranged to 
carry off the vitiated air, have a capacity of half that amount. 
This, in addition to the constant cubical contents of the 
room of, say 50,000 feet, insures a very pure atmosphere. 
The room is lighted by one very handsome electro-gasolier 
of 40 lights, pendant from an elaborate moulded boss in the 
centre of the ceiling, and by 8 side brackets of 4 lights 
each around the walls. Of these 72 lights 40 are sixteen 
candle-power electric lamps and 32 gas. 

The furniture of the room consists of one general con- 
sultation table 6 feet wide and 15 feet long, and seven indi- 
vidual writing tables for the judges. These, as well as the 



chairs and lounges are of mahogany, the tables being covered 
with leather and the chairs and lounges with hair-cloth. 

The walls and ceilings are elaborately painted in oil colors 
of quiet but rich tones, with which has been used consider- 
able gold to give effect to the many moulded and enriched 
ornaments. Above the mahogany book cases which line the 
walls, and below the impost moulding, on a soft and deli- 
cately diapered background, are hung portraits. 

Portraits in Judges' Consultation-Room. 

Thomas McKean, LL.D, Chief Justice, 1777- 1799. Obiit 
June 24, 1 817. 

John Bannister Gibson, Chief Justice, 1827-1851. Obiit 

ApHl3. 1853- 

James Thompson, Chief Justice, 1867- 1872. Obiit Jan- 
uary 28, 1874. 

John Meredith Read, Chief Justice, 1 872-1 S73. Obiit 
November 29, 1874. 

George Sharsvvood, Chief Justice, 1879-1882. Obiit May 

2S, 1883. 

Ulysses Mercur, Chief Justice, 1883-1887. Obiit June 6, 
1887. 

Isaac G. Gordon, Chief Justice, 1 88 7- 1 889. 

William Strong, Associate Justice, 1858-186S. Associate 
Justice Supreme Court United States, 1870- 1880. 

Henry W. Williams, Associate Justice, 1868-1 877. Obiit 
February 19, 1877. 

John Trunkey, Associate Justice, 1 877—1888. Obiit June 
24, 1888. 

William Rawle, Chancellor Law Association, 1 827-1 836. 
Obiit April 12, 1836. 

Horace Binney, Chancellor Law Association, 185 2-1 854. 
Obiit August 12, 1875. 

Above the impost moulding and below the main cornice 
of the ceiling, in height about 8 feet, forming a rich frieze 
around the room, is a series of cartoons depicting scenes of 
classic art and history. 

35 



Description of Frieze, Supreme Court Consultation- 
Room. 

South Wall. — Spandrels of arch over window represent 
deputies to the Amphictyonic Council from Athens, Thebes 
and Delphos. 

To the left of arch. — Truth, Harmony and Reason. 

To the right of arch. — Strength and Peace seeking inspira- 
tion from Wisdom. 

East Wall. — Middle panel, Abundance ; to the right of 
panel, the Fine Arts ; to the left, Science. 

North Wall. — Mars and Minerva heading tribute-bearers 
to Pericles as restorer of order to Greece, the Genius of Mis- 
chief endeavors to prevent Sparta joining the other States. 

West Wall. — Law and Philosophy. Middle panel, Solon 
administering the oath to the representatives of the twelve 
cities of Greece; to the right, Brutus as an impartial adminis- 
trator of justice; to the left, Plato expounding his doctrines 
of logic. 

The room is generous in all its appointments, eminently 
convenient and suitable for the purposes of study and con- 
sultation, and the decorative effect is strikingly rich and 
dignified. 

Of the adjoining room to the west, the front or southern 
portion is arranged as a toilet-room, in which are provided a 
bath-room, two water-closets and a lavatory of two wash- 
basins. These fixtures, as well as the plumbing, are of the 
most approved and modern sanitary description ; and the 
floors, and also the walls to a height of nine feet, are laid with 
tiles in soft, cool shades and quiet patterns. The supply of 
water comes directly in a special and private main laid by 
the Commissioners to supply the building from Belmont 
Reservoir, and the pressure is very strong and constant ; and 
the bath and basins are equally well supplied with hot water. 

s6 



The other end of this room is used as a robing-ropm, each 
of the Judges having a mahogany wardrobe in which the 
judicial robe is kept. The floor of this portion is raised two 
feet, so as to be on the same level as the Bench of the Court- 
room adjoining. 

THE INTERIOR. 

Directory of. Offices Occupied; or Allotted and in 
Process of Completion, with Diagram. 

Arrangement for Numbering the Rooms. 

The buildings from the exterior on eacli of the four fronts, 
exclusive of the centre and corner pavilions, present a base- 
ment story or ground floor, with three principals stories, the 
uppermost one being a mansard story. These stories, above 
the basement, are in portions divided by mezzanine or half- 
stories, which are especially to be noticed from the court-yard. 
The centre and corner pavilions rise above the adjacent 
wings and curtains, with attic stories ; the corner pavilions 
being occupied by octagonal staircases. 

The entire structure will contain over 750 rooms. 

Including the sub-basement and the mezzanine stories, 
there are seven floors in the building, the rooms in each floor 
being on the same level. To each of these floors an even 
one hundred numbers have been assigned, commencing at 
the north entrance and following round the buildings to the 
east, south, and west fronts, and returning to the north 
entrance ; twenty-five numbers, being assigned for each 
quarter of the building. The rooms facing the streets will 
have the even numbers, and those overlooking the court- 
yard the odd numbers. The numbers in each one hundred 
will be assigned to the rooms of corresponding numbers im- 
mediately above and below upon the other floors. Thus, for 
example, rooms numbered 40, 140, 240, 340,440, 540 and 640 
will be immediately one over the other. 

.37 



All the other six floors are exact counterparts of the first 
floor, the numbering of the rooms on each floor increasing 
exactly ioo numbers, 



'Diagram of First Floor of the .Now City -Hall 
"Philadelphia. 



X o r t K 





Open Area 



JU 

Tower 



Court Yard 



Fro r\ t 



mi 



r*i 





E 


127 




r^ 




129 




_BJ [139 
1*3 






133 


r 

L 


l£j 

Open Area 



Soutli Corridor 

n i 

154 > 



South 



3_ J^ 



1ST O T E . 

A . Staircases. C Ventilating Shafts. 

B Elevators. D PuolicToilet rooms. 



DIRECTORY OF OFFICES 

ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED. 



Board of Health — Chief Clerk 6ib 

Health Officer 615 

House Drainage Inspectors 613 

Milk Inspectors 513 

Nuisance Inspectors 617 

Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages 515 

Board of Revision of Taxes 113 

Clerk of Court of Quai ter Sessions 677 

Commissioners — City 1 36 

Fairmount Park 127 

New Public Buildings 262 

Controller 146 

Courts — Common Pleas, No. 1 , Room A 246 

Common Pleas, No. 1 , Room B 243 

Common Pleas, No. 2, Room C 254 

Common Pleas, No. 2, Room D 253 

Common Pleas, No. 3, Room E 266 

Common Pleas, No. 3, Room F 275 

Common Pleas, No. 4, Room G 280 

Common Pleas, No. 4, Room H 285 

Criminal (Principal) Court Room 676 

Orphans' Court — Records. 536 

Police Court Room 625 

Supreme Court Room 454 

Supreme Court Prothonotary 456 

Department of Public Safety — Boiler Inspectors 317 

Building Inspectors 315 

City Property Bureau 130 

Detective Bureau 529 

Director 225 

Electrical Bureau 626 

Superintendent of Police 227 

Department of Public Works — Director 212 

Highway Bureau 232 

Survey Bureau 418 

1 district Attorney 682 

Grand Jury Room 675 

Mayor 214 

National Guard, Pa, — Headuuarters 186 



Nos 

Police Matron 635 

Register of Wills 162 

Tax Office 102 

Tax Office — Delinquent Taxes no 

Water Rents 114 

Treasurer — City 143 



DIRECTORY OF OFFICES ON FIRST FLOOR. 



Receiver of Taxes, General Office 

Chief Clerk 

Private Office 

Assessors of Real Estate 

Delinquent Taxes 

Delinquent Taxes 

Water Rents 

Water Rents 

Department Public Safety, Markets and City Property Store 

Room 

Department Public Safety, Markets and City Property General 

Office . 

City Commissioners, Private Office 

General Office 

Clerks' Office 

City Controllers, Auditor's Office 

Auditor's Office 

Auditor's Office 

General Office 

Private Office 

Recorder of Deeds, Private 

General Office 

Transcribing Clerks 

Transcribing Clerks 

Transcribing Clerks 

Register of Wills, Private Office 

State Appraiser 162 

Deputy's Office 

Clerk's Office 

Record Room 

Hearing Room 

National Guard, Pa. — Headquarters 

National Guard, Pa. — Headquarters 

National Guard, Pa. — Headquarters 

Board of Revision of Taxes, Private Room 

I Joard Room 

( ieneral Clerks' Room 

Search Clerks' Room 

Ladies' Toilet Room 

Commissioners of Fairmount Park, Engineer and Superintendent. 

Commissioners of Fairmount Park, Board Room 

City Treasurer's Clerks' Room 

General and Private Office 

Sheriff • 

40. 



Directory of Offices on Second Floor. 

t Nos. 

Department Public Works, Director's Private Room 210 

Clerks' Room 212 

Mayor's Clerks' Room 214 

Reception Room 216 

Private Room 218 

Department Public Works, Licenses and Sewers 230 

Chief Com. Highways 232 

Street Cleaning 234 

Highway Com. Room 236 

Architects' Draughting Room, Temporary 246 

Private Draughting Room, Temporary 248 

Court of Common Pleas, No. 2, Room C 254 

Temporary Offices of the Commissioners for the Erection of the 262 
New Public Buildings 264 

Court of Common Pleas, No. 3, Room E 266 

No. 4, Room G 280 



Department of Public Work, Clerks 213 

Department of Public Safety, Clerks 215 

Clerks 217 

Director's Private Room 219 

Director's Room 221 

Lieutenant's Hearing Room 225 

Superintendent of Police, Clerks 227 

Superintendent of Police, Private 229 

Court of Common Pleas, No. 1, Room B 243 

No. 2, Room D 253 

No. 3, Room F 275 

No. 4, Room H 285 

Note. — Rooms Nos. 230 to 248, inclusive, are now in use temporarily. Nos. 230 to 242 
having been allotted to the permanent offices of the Prothonotary of the Courts of Common 
Pleas, and Room No. 246 to the Court of Common Pleas, No. 1, Room A. 

Directory of Offices ox Third Floor. 

Mayor's Office Store Room 310 

Survey Bureau Store Room 312 

Store Room ■ 316 

Store Room 318 

Department of Public Safety, Store Room Building Inspector. . . . 320 

Store Room Boiler Inspector 328 



Building Inspectors 313 

Inspectors 3^5 

Boiler Inspectors 317 

Inspectors 319 

Department of Public Safety, Police Station Supplies 321 

Large Store Room 325 

Store Room 327 

4i 



Directory of Offices on Fourth Floor. 

• Nos. 

Board of Highway Supervisors, Draughting Room 406 

Registrar Survey Department City Plans | 410 

Registry Bureau ! . - y, 412 

& X .. t- 1 Survey Bureau. ^ c 

Assistant Engineer j J 416 

Chief Engineer Sewers, etc I 418 

Board of Surveys Committee Room 420 

Supreme Court Justices' Consultation Room 450 

Toilet Room 452 

Room 454 

Prothonotary's Office 456 

Prothonotary's Office 458 

Prothonotary's Office 460 

Law Library 468 

Law Library 476 

Law Library 80 



Directory of Offices on Fifth Floor. 

Orphans' Court Record Rooms 530 

Record Rooms 532 

Record Rooms 534 

Record Rooms , 536 

Supreme Court Record Rooms 556 

Record Rooms 5 58 

Record Rooms 560 



Board of Health, Milk Inspector . 513 

Registration Bureau, 515 

Registration Bureau 517 

Police Surgeon 527 

Detective Bureau 529 

Detective Bureau 531 

Detective Bureau 533 

Detective Bureau 535 

Detective Bureau 537 

Detective Bureau, Store Room 539 

Directory of Offices on Sixth Floor. 

Board of Health, Chief Clerk 610 

Clerks' Room 612 

Board Room 616 

Electrical Bureau, Chief's Private Room 618 

Clerks' Room 620 

Operating Room 626 

Inspectors' Room 628 

Dept. Pub. Safety, Reserves Roll Room 630 

Sitting Room 634 

Toilet Room 636 



Nos. 

Tipstaves Criminal Courts 640 

Jury Room 642 

Witness' Room 644 

Criminal Court Room, No. 1 646 

Judges' Room, Private 648 

Criminal Court Room, No. 2, Tempo. arily 650 

District Attorney, Temporarily 654 

Female Witnesses 664 

Criminal Court Room 676 

Clerk of Quarter Sessions, Private 682 



Board of Health, Inspectors of House Drainage 613 

Health Officer 615 

Inspector of Nuisances 617 

Police Magistrates' Private Room 621 

Court Room 625 

Witness' Room 627 

Captains' Room 629 

Lieut. Reserves Room 631 

Sergeant's Room 633 

Matron's Room 635 

Room 637 

Turnkey and Surgeon of Police 639 

Police Prisoners' Cell Room 643 

Court Prisoners' Detention Room 653 

Turnkey's Room 657 

Criers Criminal Courts 66 r 

Subpoena Clerk, Quarter Sessions 663 

Quarter Sessions 665 

Grand Jury and Indictment Clerk 675 

Offices of the Clerk of Quarter Sessions 677 

Quarter Sessions 68 1 

Quarter Sessions 685 

Quarter Sessions 687 



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Printers, 

306 and 308 Chestnut Street, 

Philadelphia. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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